Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-29
STATUE OF R. E. LEE.
MERcIE. THE FRENCH SCULPTOR, Sc
LECTED TO DO THE WORK.
Important Action Yesterday OF the Lee
Monument Association-W Work
Soon TO Begin.

Ever since the year 1870 the people oi |
Virginia have been contributing 10 this
sacred enterprise a great deal Of talk and
some little money. That the monument
should. be In Richmond was almost the |
only matter about which there was no dis.
prte.
Two associations entered the field 10 col
lect money. One clashed With the other |
Finally both ceased active work. Then |
there was a long wait. At last the two Or |
agreed to unity. and the Gene.
raj Assembly gave them the legislation thev |
asked for. Meanwhile models for the |
monument and statue were twice invited |
and exhibited In competition. On the first |
occasion all were rejected on the second |
premiums were awarded according TO |
but none OF the models exactly |
suited.
THE SITE.
Next there arose a great discussion about |
the site. The localities brought into strong
tst rivalry by the eloqucncc OF their friends
were the Allen lot, at the west end OF
Franklin strset, and Marshall PARK (or
Libby HilD. The association chose the
Allen lot, which for this purpose Is 10 have
broad avenues running through il from
Where ibey intersect will be a circle 300
feet in diameter, and In the centre Of IL the
monument will he placed. This Is the ste
selected. Here the monument will be put,
though the City Council looks with disfa-
yOr on the site.
TIE SCULPTOR.
The site having been resolved upon by
the association, the next thing to do WAS to
sCltct sculptor. over this there has been
a long discussion. In awarding the prizes
for tie best models last yeaT the ladies' as
ISOLATION, which was then acting, expressly
reserved the right to Use or not any OF the
plans proposed.
There were no models that quite came mp
u the demands Of tie critics and the cX
peciations Of the people, aud after the most
mature deliberations the association deter.
mined to open correspondence with Nom
sieir Mercie. an eminent French sculptor
MCrciG bad model on exhibition, bu. II
was not mentiO ned in the report OF the
iu5ges Of award. The fact Is that he mis-
took the character OF Lee and gave 10 his
work dash ill-suiled TO the sedate aud
dipnIfed but heroic looking leader Of the
Army OF Northern Virginia. lie did not
then have information which be has since
acquired, but from all that the association
could learn he seemed to possess the abili-
ties and the experience they were seeking
in an artist: and without dispiragement
OF the talent Of this state and country. they
thought il hest to get him To do the work II
possible. However, the question waN an
open one until yesterday. 1t is ho" 10
longer 20.
MEETING OF TIE BOARD.
There was a meeting Of the Board ~
Managers OF the association held Yesterday
at the Governors Office at the Executive
mansion. Present: Governor Lee tchlir.
mani. Treasurer \. W. Hirmln, Miss 81
rah y. Randolph. Miss Elizabeth Nichols.
and Colonel Archer Anderson. Absent
Auditor Morton Marye. who was out OF
the city.
At this meeting II was decided to lIy the
colners stone Of the Lee monument on the
first day Of the state Fair.
THE SIZE.
1t was also decided to grade and lly of
The street from Lombardy to the point
where the monument will be erected. ~
the Council practically declined TO have
ANYTHING to do with the matter, the assO-
citation proposes to lay Off and grade the
streets outside OF the city, and when the
CITY ultimately extends that far and pro-
poses TO embrace that section within it.
limits 1t VIII have TO pay for this work.
Under the proposition made 10 the Council
by The Board OF Managers OF the a,sOcIa-
tiOn the avenues there 1l0 feet Wldr)
would have been given to the CITY, being
about three times the width OF an Ordinary
street.
TIE SCULPTOR.
The most important action taken by the
boaId was lbe selection Of the sculptO: to
do The work. The board, after a long,
careful, and tedious investigation Of the
merits OF different SculptOrS, finally De-
cided from all the data and facts in their
possession and from a large correspondence
with men OF art In this and other countries,
TO give the work to MerciG, OF Pari-.
As stated he was one Of those who sent
models here on exhibition In the senate
chamber. The board was very much
plessed with the pedestal he designed, but
not with the position OF the horse and
rider.
MODEL HORSE.
Morc,e has since modelled another horse
with which the board j. very much delight.
cd. Msjor Thomas boswell pronouncing it
NERCIE.
Monsieur Mercie has great reputlton.
derived from the works he has already
made. Augustus SAINT Gaudens, himself
most eminent sculptor, now engaged on a
statue Of Abraham Lincoln, says he places
Mercie among the four or five best Sculp.
tors living, and ranks his "David" and
"Gloria Vlctis" among the five or six best
works in sculpture that have been pro.
duc,d since the Renaissance in France.
AMONG TIE FINEST.
Another eminent sculptor writes that Mer.
ciG Is great artist, and that the board could
make no mistake in giving the work 10
him. and his work would reflect eternal
credit on the committees choice, for they
would surely get the best work Of sculp>
ture in the New World.
BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE.
In reference to the Gloria VictIs OF ller-
ciG's, Il competent critic has written A. ioI'
lows:
"After so many artists have celebrated
the glory wrllng from victory, here comes
one who can celebrate the glory wrung
from defeat. The yanquished now rises
TO Heaven 'under the wings OF re-
nown.' Little recks he that the ac-
ton IN which he spent his blood was
futile. his devotion frustrated. His own
part was perfectly played, and Fame,
taking care OF immortality, will record his
dedication without recording his unsuc-
cess. This might have been written OF Lee
himself"
WILL FURNISH MODEL.
II is understood that Mercie is TO furnish
the board with small model OF the pro-
posed statue for their acceptance. the idea
OF The board being to place General Lee on
a lyrical thoroughbred horse, standing in
periect repose. Monsieur Mercie will be
sent the height and average weight OF the
General during the war, together with full
description Of his person, dress, &c.
also an engraving and other pictures
wbIch General Custls Lee pron0unces the
best Iikenesses OF his father taken OF him in
Confederate uniform; also plaster-cast Of
his face takeu by the celebrated CLARK
Mills.
WANT THE BEST ARTIST.
In making this decision the board Of
course have been actuated by sincere de.
sire 10 get work OF art worthy OF the
great soldier whose memory il il designed
TO commemorate. All other things being
equal, OF course they would have been
pleased TO have given IL TO n Confederate
soldier who Is st the same time an artist,
ike Mr. Ezekiel. or TO native sculptor Of
distinction like Valentine. The latter "a
member OF the board states) was invited to
send a competing model to the association,
hut declined to do so. In previous COM
petilion Of this kind, during Governor